Building construction



R. 'FELLoM Oct, 26, 1943.

INVENTOR 205/ Fe//om @W 9' A-r-ronmrv= I Oct. 26, 1943. I R. Fl-:LLoM

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Flu-5-5..

. 'i\\\\\ 4 Ze INVENTOR Ray Fe /lom WMIWZv-fir A'rTonNavs opposite edges of the slab.

Pafenteci Oct. 26, 1943 amma @UNITED STATES `A`TEENT i aaazfloe`A U -1 i Bernama' Corrscriutrrionv ady irieifidm, san Frmidcaiiri Appiicatidn April 14., 1941, 'si-ialndssaizimf oiaiyms. (crita-.nf`

' This invention relates to building construction generally, and more specifically to roof, floor and wall construction. i f

One of the objects of theinvention `is an improved lroof construction providing a, roof structure that is made up of slabs`of-preformed material, such as concrete, cement, tile, ory composition material, in which the roof is-easily and quickly laid, and is waterproof, strong, and

relatively economical, and -which structure-in general, is also adapted for forming the fioors and side wallsof a building. p.

Another object is a roof, wall or floor construction providing a roof, wall or fioor made up I of slabs and waterproofing strips that are firmly,

but removably united together to form a`l sub-` stantiallypunitary roof, floor, or'lwall, covering independently of the rafters, beams, joists or studding which supports such covering, but

` whichl construction includes means for removably clamping such slabs to ra'fters,l `Ibeams,

joists or studding of standard structural steel such as/T-iron strips or the like.`

Other objects and advantages will appear Vin the following specification and in the drawings annexed hereto. i

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a roof or wall showing my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, showing the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional, part ele- Vational view of a joint between sealing strips and between slabs. Y'

Fig. 4 is a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4. V

Fig. 6 is another form of the invention, being a sectional view through va floor.

Fig; '7 is a fragmentary plan view of a floor that uses the structure shown in Fig. 6.'

Fig. 8 is a modified form of lookingV means:``

adaptcd to connect the Vreiriforcing elements' of adjacent slabs. V

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary seotional view through a roof at the ridge showingV the ridge cap in place.

Embedded m eachsnb at the umddf mdidmg is a, pair of reinforcing members 3, ofl any suit-l able material, such as relatively heavy wire.

The members 3 are parallel .andfextend across i the slab transversely of the Vflanges, and project at their ends from the outer surfaces of the L .ranges in the form of .teratai .mpsi- 'Tlleeg the outer side of the building.

, different slabs' in thejrow adjacent thereto.

flanges on=each slab projectfrom, the same "side of "the'slab. The openings of loops ll are directedtransversely'of theiflanges from which they project, and the portion of each member Ei connecting; between the loops at its ends, may 'flcurve longitudinally thereo'f in the plane of the loop openings and in direction generally away from said loops,l so Tas to form truss-like braces V f in each slab.

The two .opposite edges of each siab that extend between the corresponding ends of ilanges '2, may be rabbeted, as best indicated in Fig. 3

so as to form an overlap with the complementarily rabbeted edge of an adjacent slab. The grooves forming the rabbet joint are formed in the slabs when the latter are molded, and the opposite rabbeted edges of each slab are formed 'so `thatside along the rabbet at the lower edge of leachsucceeding slab on an inclined roof in direction toward the ridgeoverlies Vthe corresponding side of the rabbet formed in the ele- Vated edge of the Slab below it, thus insuring 'proper drainage from the roof free from leak- Vage past the joint (Fig. 2).

'Ifhe rafters 5 in Fig. 2 are preferably T-iron members or strips, with the i'ianges facing toward These rafters are so spaced that the margins of the slabs along the sides thereof opposite the flanges will lie flat on the rafter flanges, and if desired, any suitable plastic, cement, or so called mastic 6,may be disposed between i the 'said margins and fianges, Vas well as between the adjacent edges of adjacent slabs. a

In laying a roof, any suitable means, such as Va metal strap 'l (Fig. 3). 'may be welded to the lower ends of the rafters iny longitudinal exterision thereof, and the lower ends of such straps 'may be turned up as indicated, to engage the lower edges of adjacent pairs of slabs that form slabs in direction longitudinally of flanges 2, land lthe eyesvor loops 4 in the normal sized slabs are positioned at points spaced from opposite ends o f the Vflanges a distance about one quarter of the total length of each ilange, while in the half-sized slabs of the lower row (and uppermost row at the ridge of the roof) the loops 4 are midway between theends of fianges 2.

By the above arrangement it will be seen that the loops of each slab, in each vertical or inclined row, between the upper andlower slab of each row, will each register with a loop in The lower pair of loops in each of the normal-sized H:lower slabs iof' eacnvertical or inclined row that and. extend slantingly in direction It'owardw'the extends longitudinally of the rafters, willregis'terv r its ends in bthe sides of channel l2, which' bar with the loops in the half-length slabs adjacent extends across the channel and vis adapted to fit thereto, and the upper pair of loops. in thenorin slots ll that ,extend across vthe adjacent mal-sized slabs at .the top of each row4 Will likeflange'sandwhich openoutwardly of said flanges.

wise register with the loops in the halflength I Each strip 2 is formed to overlap adjacent slabs adjacent thereto. Vstrips at its ends that are in longitudinal exten-'j When the roof is laid, as above describe'dfii'fv f- Will be seen that the registering loops projecting from adjacent flanges 2 are spacecll apart andlsion thereof so as to drain Water. from the upper V of suchl strips overthe'fone adjacent thereto andV below it, .as best indicated in Fig. 3 in Which .the I;

their openings are in horizontal WaIignment. lip `Lat the lower end of the'upper strip of eachj" In this position,fthe slabs may be tightly dr'awn row thereof' fits over the lip [9 at the upper end against the flanges of the T-ir-'on rafters by'c'lips of'the strip extending downwardly from such up- 8, such as are illustrated in my co-pendingA apper strip. i plication Ser. No. 377,808 filed February '7, 'IQ/41; In my invention, the ridge cap for the roof, V TheseV clipsV are generally wedge-like,` resilient lgfcomprises an; angle strip Zfl-of concrete 01-gcemembers of T-s-hape, the arms of which 'engage mentitious material, or. any othersuitablematethe fiange of the 'F-iron rafterV andl the bside 'of rial. As shown in Fig. 9, said capcarriesabolt' the slab, while the leg of -the clip extends 21' projecting froin between the legs 122 o figthe through an eye 9 secured` to slab. rThe outer end .A angle strip, NThese legs 2-2. overlap the upper of said leg also engages the side of the slag en- .margins ofthe slabs f| and strips |2 -at opposite gaged by one of the arms of said device, and said sides of the ridge, and the upper ends :of-each pair leg is supported in inclined position by'said arms, of,,rafter s w 5 are ,joined-by a short angle 'strip ,2 3 so that upon movement of the device' -85longituthrough the horizontally disposed.` bflange ,of 4

dinally of said leg and the iiange engaged V.by one whichv one of bolts 2`| extends. By tiglitening I of said arms, the slab will be drawn tightly 25, nut 24 onV eachbolt belowsaid flange, .the cap' against thel flange-of the rafter, 'but asythe leg 20 is drawn; againstthe. slabs. and stripsjatep'sof the device is slightly lresilient, the slabs will posite sides-,of the ridge of the'roof. I V not be loosened upon expansion and contraction 'It ispertinent t o note. that lthe spacejbe'tween of the slab or by eXcess-ive Vibration. V the bottom of each channel 2 and the: flanges Before or after the clips Bare in position, the 2 enclosed by said flanges, may be substantiallyf adjacent loops of adjacent flan-ges areconnected filled with a plastic which fills the spacesfbeby any suitable means, such as bolts lt that protween the adjacent flanges, so'that a' roof, `when ject through the openings of said adjacent loops. laid, is absolutely waterproofand Will llastgf on Bytightening the nuts on said bo1ts,;the,slabs indefinitenumber ofyears. i will be drawn toward each other and after all V-In Fig s. 6, ,7 IA show' a structure: suitable'ffor bolts are in position, it will be seen'that the fioorsor .for .flat roofs, on. which'rectanglilar roof is substantially a unitary lcovering -irreslabs 25 are provided without fla'riga but still spective of the supporting rafters,gsinc e .there have the reinforcing members ,-2.--thereon,.;with `is an indirect connection between all slabs on loops .21 attheirfoppositeends. 'Tlieseloops' are .the roof at one side of the ridge-thereofbothin 40 the direction of incline ef the roof and transpairslofslabs forming the lfloor, and .boks-:leonversely thereof. The slabsof each vertical or necttheloops inthe same manner .a'sfde'scribed disposed in recesses '28 at lthe,a'c'lfjacferit'edges of inclined row are offset relative to the row adforthe roof or side wall structure, "disolosedfjn .j .jacent thereto, but the adjacent flanges 2 of the Fig. 2., .After-the bolts are .in .place, tho recesses adiacent inclined rows are in -alignment and relatively close together. 45..l ike, which also covers the loops and bo I provide a specialv covering stripV extending `posed .in'said recesses.l loneitudinally of the adiacentflanges ,of each When the fioor is `fu11y1aid,'the.floorfipreents a inclined row of slabs in the formvof aninverted planar upper Vsurface freefromany pro'jections channel l-2,-preferably.-formed of concrete or of such as the fianges :and -stripsused Viriwliligsill to a molded material, the bottom-ofwhichextends o 3. The edges of slabs V25 that extend vatright across the adjacent flanges -2 ofthe slabs in adangles 130 theones a1ong-whjchth rc'ss's `2s jacent inclined IOWS, and vthe Sifilis Of Which are formed arefrabbeted thefsame as shown in Channel extends Over the opposifielyl--Outwardly vslabs in-Fig. 3,-.andt11es1ebs-25 are'se'eii'red to *facing Sides of Said adjacem fia'nges: 'thus Cn" the floor joists 3l of T-ironby-thesamefmeans f closing the said flanges. Withineach channel .emp1oyed,.m.Figs 2 3 I may provide. a* hook'nke-member [.3J that is In some instances @each belt/lily may vbe subaclapted to hook under each of the bolts 'L0 .bestituted by a Plate 32, (Fig 3)' n{1 ,a`,..pm-.33,..flgphV tween adjacent loops, thus holding V.the channels against the slabs, and I'may also form each of the flanges with an -inclined recess linto Which inwardly projecting elements iS, on the 'inner sides of Ithe .channel may. s'lid'e.` 'These recesses open outwardly'of 'theou'ter eges of 'thefiang'es 'plate 532 isi-formed :With Va Jslotf34 ..for eachgfofethe recesses 28 With the loops projecting through -slots.=34, afterwhich the pin 29,-is passed :through eaves of'the' roof, thus supporting the channels against separation from 'the fian'ges by gravity. as 'it 'covers the'loops iand''boltsf'shown'm`fig' 6' The same holds true 'of the. hook-like members "`Havmgfd$0fibed imy inventi0l 1,- Ifclaim'zi" 23', `since these extend from the'clian'n'els dimclvmeq rogf'compnsmg:'lnchngd' lmfters rection generally toward the eaves. In some in--V "Provlded "at when *flower b'endsWith58enm'auYJ1IJ- are filled with a waterproofingplastic V30, o'r'the M dis-V lcops 251; 'The `plate ds inserted lin 'fthe adiacent "the loopfop'enings above said plate. The'xplastic. material, for ..the like. that *thereafter .fil1s: thefrecessescovers the p'late,.floopsJandspin,V the-.same

stances the members 55 and/recesses 'N may be Wardly extendmgf smp? immbers; frecmgmar' omitte'd, but when used these "coact with .the slabs v'fini'l'OWSextiefldiflf longitudinllyfof Said members i'to secure the channels .l`2 in position. ra'f'iersfeflh `0`f` `Said rowsfbeing @ISU-SIIPPOI'Gf-*d V b'Figs 4, 5 show a 'modification of the members jag'amst'saidlstop membersfagainstlslidih'efddwnf `i3 and recesses' iof'thepr'eviously described 'fig- 'wardlyfon"Saiclfrafters means clampingf' e a'ch ures. In Fies. '4, 5 there is *a bar 'lt 'secured at slab' against'adjacent-raftersofls'aid row-:offerters independently of the other slabs of said rows; and means removable from the slabs securing the slabs of each row to those of adjacent rows and to each other in each row independently of the rafters.

2. In roof, floor or wall construction; a plurality of pairs of parallel rows of rectangular slabs in which the slabs are in co-planar relation; reinforcing wires embedded in each of the slabs of said rows and projecting at their ends from said slabs; means removable from the projecting ends of said wires securing the projecting ends of the wires in the slabs of adjacent rows of slabs together; preformed strips extending over the connected ends of the wires in the slabs of said adjacent rows and over the adjacent marginal portions of the adjacent slabs of each adjacent pair of rows; separate means on said adjacent slabs and on the said strips removably interengaging with each other securing the said strips to said adjacentl slabs and securing said slabs together.

3. A reinforced concrete slab roof for buildings comprising a plurality of horizontallyextending rows of generally rectangular slabs of concrete; rafters supporting adjacent pairs of slabs of each row at their adjacent edges; flanges formed on adjacent pairs of slabs of each row extending along their adjacent edges and projecting upwardly from said slabs; slab reinforcing`` wires imbedded in each of said slabs extending thereacross and through said fianges and projecting at their opposite ends from said flanges; means securing together the adjacent ends of the wires projecting from the adjacent flanges of each adjacent pair of slabs in each of said rows; an inverted channel strip enclosing said adjacent flanges of said adjacent pairs of slabs and also enclosing the said adjacent ends of the wires projecting from said adjacent fianges; means on each of said strips and on the adjacent pair of flanges enclosed thereby respectively interengaging one with the other removably securing each strip to the pair of fianges enclosed thereby.

4. A reinforced concrete slab roof for buildings comprising a plurality of horizontally extending rows of generally rectangular` slabs of concrete; rafters supporting adjacent pairs of slabs of each row at their adjacent edges; flanges formed on the adjacent pairs of slabs of each row extending along their adjacent 'edges and projecting upwardly from said slabs; slab reinforcing members imbedded in each of said slabs projecting outwardly therefrom adjacent the adjacent edges of adjacent pairs of slabs in each row; means securing the members of adjacent pairs of slabs together; an inverted channel'strip enclosing the adjacent flanges of adjacent pairs of slabs; said adjacent flanges being formed with outwardly opening slots and means carried by the strip enclosing each adjacent pair of flanges disposed in said slots securing said strips to said flanges and slabs, said last mentioned means being removable from said slots through the outwardly open ends of the latter upon sliding said slabs longitudinally of said fianges in one direction.

5. In roof, floor or wall construction, a pair of parallel rows of substantially rectangular slabs in co-planar relation; an elongated support for said rows extending longitudinally thereof and across the line of division between the same at one of the sides of said slabs and in engagement with said sides; a covering strip .against the opposite sides of said slabs extending longitudinally of said support and acrosssaid line of division;

means securing said strip against the slabs of said rows including elements positioned along said line of division and relatively rigid with respect to said slabs, and members rigidly secured to said strip hook to said elements.

6. In roof, floor or wall construction, a pair of parallel rows of substantially rectangular slabs in co-planar relation; an elongated support for said rows extending longitudinally thereof and across the line of division between the same at one of the sides of said slabs and in engagement with said sides; a covering strip adapted to be secured to said slabs at their sides opposite said support in a position extending longitudinally of said rows and over said support and across said line of division; means securing said strip in said position comprising elements carried by said strip and projecting therefrom and members carried by said slabs projecting therefrom and in releasable interengaging relationship with said elements, and means on said slabs including said members connecting the slabs of one row with the slabs of the other row.

7. In a construction as defined in claim 6, guide means respectively carried yby said slabs and said strip for` guiding said strip toward said slabs upon movement of said strip generally longitudinally thereof in one direction upon movement of said projecting ends of said elements into said interengaging relationship with said members; said elements being generally of hooklike form with their free ends facing generally in said one direction, and each of said members having a portion thereof formed for hooking engagement therewith by each of said elements.

8. A roof, fioor or wall of a building comprising; a plurality of pairs of spaced, parallel structural steel members arranged in side by side relationship; parallel rows of similar sized rectangular slabs arranged with two of the opposite marginal portions of the slabs in each row supported against one of the sides of the members of each adjacent pair thereof and in which the adjacent marginal portions of the slabs of each adjacent pair of rows are supported against the same member; individual elements separable from the slabs releasably securing the individual slabs in each row to the members supporting the same; loop members rigidly secured to each slab releasably securing said elements to said slabs, said elements slidably extending through said loop members and into releasable engagement with said structural steel members and said loop members; the slabs in the alternate rows thereof being arranged in staggered relation to the slabs in the rows therebetween whereby the marginal portions of each slab in such alternate rows will extend across the junctures between adjacent pans of slabs in the rows at either side thereof; and spaced devices carried by each slab in said alternate rows releasably securing each such slab to said adjacent pairs of slabs in the said rows adjacent thereto.

9. A roof, floor, or wall comprising; a plurality of similar sized rectangular slabs arranged in a pair of rows alongside each other; loops of wire, or the like, secured to the slabs in said rows with the openings in the loops of the slabs in one row in axial alignment with the loops of the slabs in the other row; bolts extending through the loop openings of the aligned loops securing the loops together; said loops projecting from the slabs and being inseparably secured to the latter- ROY FELLOM. 

